2026-06-17 14:01:42

Jeremy Allen White has thrown his support behind the UK’s planned social media ban for under-16s, describing the move as a necessary response to the increasingly addictive nature of online platforms.

The UK government announced on Monday (15.06.26) that children under 16 would be barred from accessing apps including TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube as part of sweeping online safety reforms.

White, who stars in the forthcoming film The Social Reckoning, praised the decision while attending the premiere of the final season of his hit TV series, The Bear, in New York.

The actor’s latest movie, a sequel to the 2010 movie The Social Network, explores allegations that Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook ignored internal warnings about the impact social media could have on young users and their mental health.

White, 35, told Variety: “It’s remarkable how addictive this stuff is.

“I think there needs to be a correction. It’s never going to go away, but I do think there needs to be boundaries or guidelines at a certain point.

“And I hope there is some kind of slide back into more of an analog approach in life. Because this is all moving very fast and it’s a little scary.”

White, who is a father of two, said his daughters, aged seven and five, do not have their own devices.

Although they occasionally use phones belonging to him or their mother, he has previously said he hopes to keep them away from social media “as long as [he] can”.

Concerns over children’s screen time continue to grow internationally.

Recent research from the Pew Research Center found that more than 64 per cent of parents allow children aged 12 and under to use smartphones or tablets, despite many expressing concerns about their effects.

White’s The Bear co-star, Ayo Edebiri, admitted adults also struggle with technology dependence.

The 30-year-old actress said: “I really want a flip phone.

“If I didn’t have contractual obligations and emails to answer, I genuinely would be like Steve Martin, Bill Murray mode. Like, call me and get the voicemail. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

“That’s my dream for society: real office hours again. You can’t reach me after eight.”

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